Lunch & Learn: Beth Davison, presenting her film “The Denim Dynasty”

“The Denim Dynasty” is a documentary about the legacy of the Cone family that shaped prominent features of North Carolina’s landscape. A national park, a regional medical center, an amazing art collection, roads and schools all bear the name of the family whose corporation made North Carolina a leading producer of textiles for much of the 20th century.

The documentary explores the early days of North Carolina’s textile history through stories of the Cone family and the textile workers who lived and raised their families in the mill villages. Together, the Cone family and workers helped make Cone textiles a world leader in producing denim. The Cone family’s story encompasses many of the themes that form the American narrative: immigration, reconstruction, industrial revolution, paternalism and philanthropy.

“The Denim Dynasty” includes interviews of former Cone mill villagers and features faculty members from Appalachian. Moses Cone was one of the first financial contributors and board members of Watauga Academy, now Appalachian State University.

The documentary runs approximately 50 minutes. A question and answer session with Davison will follow.

A parking and traffic attendant will be at the Library Parking Deck to help our guests with parking!